Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-12-08

TOUGH SAM BRAHSAN.-Ths an
nonncement that Sam Brannan ha
returned to this city from Guaymas
Sonora, and is registered at lodginQ
house on Commercial street reyiyss |,
host Of recollsctions concerning the
career of that erratic gentleman
Sem Brannan's career on this coast
has been a varied one. He was the
first man to start newspaper in Cal.
itornia and was instrumental in the
finding and working Of gold in the
island which 10 now known as Mormon
island. Sam Brannsn was the devil
in that great play of"Gold Discovery
which was acted here throughout the
years af ls49-50. Though the actors
were by no means angels. yet Sam
Brannan BY superior intelligence and
his unbounded audacity. did for q
great many months play leading
part during that time. As an ex.
ample OF his audacity Sam Brannan
constituted himself the collector Of
tithes for the benefit of the Mormon
Church, and this tithe was one tenth
of the gross products of the gold
mines. Strange to say. the Mormon
miners unhesitstingly paid to Sam this
1.-THE, in the silly belief that it was
duly forwarded to Salt Lake City.
For many months the tithe was paid
without murmur, but one day Gen.
eral Sherman, who was then stationed
here, happened ia pay a visit to Nor.
mon Island and was approached with
complaint by certain Mormons.
Lieutenant" said they, I'VE are
paying one-tenth of the gross product
OF our earnings to Sam Brannau as q
tithe to the Mormon Church, and We
do not believe that he is sending as
ne promised. We wish that You
would see him about it,"
Sherman was q notorious lover of
justice, and was ever ready to listen
to complaint, and, if possible, recti.
fy it, so when he returned to Sam
Francisco he met Sam and told him
what he had heard.
More damn fools they to pay"
said Sam, "and as long as they pay so
long will l take"
Sherman communicated this answer
to the swelterlng Latter Day Saints
at Mormon island, and after a great
many resolutions it was finally agreed
that the tithe should be discontinued.
Little was heard Of Sam Braunsn
for many years, until he suddenly
loomed up with the startling news
that he had furnished supplies to the
Mexican Government during the war
of 1866 to the tune of $lO,OOO,OOO.
The Mexican Government, rather
justly, repudiated this claim and gave
him a few thousand dollars. Then
Sam Brannan loomed up again as
great colonist and elaborated a big
scheme for furnishing Sonora with
colonists, and for the furtherancs of
this plan he took up his residence in
the town Of Guaymas, which is the
port Of the State Of Sonora.
As dresser Sam Bran nan was not
a success during his stay in that
town. In the hot weather, and it can
be hot in Guaymas, Sam Brannan was
the reverse of being we'll clad. His
favorite apparel was an old chintz
dressing gown which came little
below his knees, a pair of carpet slip
pers down at the heel and out at the
toe and gaudy japanese umbrella.
Arrayed in only these articles of
wearing apparel, Mr.. Sam Brannan
would stroll out to pay his calls and
attend to his business. 1t can be
imagined what alarm his appearance
caused among the fair senoritas Of
Sonora when he came before them
in his Tapping dressing gown. One
day, when a fresh sea breeze was
blowing through the little town and
tanning the few sickly orange trees
in the place, Mr.. Sam Brannan ap-
peared in all the glory Of his gaudy
dress. A meeting was held by prom
inent residents of the place and q
deputation waited upon Sam, request.
ing him to finish his toilet before hs
appeared on the plaza. Sans reply
was couched in the form Of breaking
the paper umbrella over the speaker,
head and be retired to the house il
high dudgeon, his mouth vomiting
forth curses upon every man, woman
and child in the State of Sonora o
the great Mexican Republic.